Unless she faces any unexpected hurdles, she’ll take the court when the Chicago Sky host the Portland Fire at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Friday, Jun. 25. The 5-foot-8 veteran told ESPN she was “excited and thankful” to complete her comeback that she couldn’t put it into words.
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Vandersloot, 37, injured her knee in a loss to the Indiana Fever in early June 2025. She was listed as questionable on Chicago’s injury report on Thursday, June 25.
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Drafted No. 3 overall by the Sky in 2011, Vandersloot played her first 12 seasons with the team and won her first WNBA championship in 2021. She signed with the Liberty as a free agent in 2023 and won her second league title in 2024.
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2026 WNBA season is underway. See photos from the league’s 30th year
Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (10) celebrates with guard Olivia Miles (5) after a play against the Golden State Valkyries during the fourth quarter at Chase Center on Jun 19, 2026 in San Francisco, California.
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2026 WNBA season is underway. See photos from the league’s 30th year
Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (10) celebrates with guard Olivia Miles (5) after a play against the Golden State Valkyries during the fourth quarter at Chase Center on Jun 19, 2026 in San Francisco, California.
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(Kelley L Cox, Imagn Images)
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2026 WNBA season is underway. See photos from the league’s 30th year
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) reacts after scoring against the Portland Fire during the second half at Moda Center on June 11, 2026 on Portland, Oregon.
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2026 WNBA season is underway. See photos from the league’s 30th year
Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) shoots against Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 18, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
2026 WNBA season is underway. See photos from the league’s 30th year
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) drives to the basket against Chicago Sky guard Skylar Diggins (4) during the first half at Wintrust Arena on June 17, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Kamil Krzaczynski, Imagn Images)
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2026 WNBA season is underway. See photos from the league’s 30th year
Toronto Tempo guard Brittney Sykes (20) shoots the ball while Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 16, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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2026 WNBA season is underway. See photos from the league’s 30th year
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) stands up Tuesday, June 16, 2026, during the second half of a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Toronto Tempo, 113-91.
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Chicago Sky guard Skylar Diggins (4) reacts after scoring against the Connecticut Sun during the second half at Wintrust Arena on June 5, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
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2026 WNBA season is underway. See photos from the league’s 30th year
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball while Chicago Sky guard Skylar Diggins (4) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 11, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)
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2026 WNBA season is underway. See photos from the league’s 30th year
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) sports her signature Nike Caitlin 1 shoe while warming up Thursday, June 18, 2026, during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink (22) reacts to hitting a 3-pointer against the Las Vegas Aces in the second quarter of their game at Michelob Ultra Arena on May 23, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) passes around Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) on Saturday, May 17, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Chicago Sky, 93-58.
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Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) reacts after her three point basket against the Connecticut Sun in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut.
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Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (10) battles for a loose ball against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2) in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center on May 12, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) and Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) pose for a photo after a game at State Farm Arena on May 17, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4) blocks the shot on Chicago Sky guard Skylar Diggins (4) in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on May 15, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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Toronto Tempo guard Marina Mabrey (3) celebrates after scoring against the Chicago Sky during the first half at Wintrust Arena on May 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Kamil Krzaczynski, Imagn Images)
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Connecticut Sun forward Diamond Miller (1) defends against the Los Angeles Sparks in the second half at PeoplesBank Arena in May 30, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut.
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2026 WNBA season is underway. See photos from the league’s 30th year
Connecticut Sun center Brittney Griner (42) looks for a reboudn with Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) and guard Rhyne Howard (10) in the fourth quarter at Gateway Center Arena at College Park on June 2, 2026 in College Park, Georgia.
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2026 WNBA season is underway. See photos from the league’s 30th year
Los Angeles Sparks guard Chance Gray (2) is fouled by Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) as she drives to the basket during the second half at Crypto.com Arena on June 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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2026 WNBA season is underway. See photos from the league’s 30th year
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) drives to the basket against Indiana Fever center-forward Aliyah Boston (7) in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 4, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Vandersloot’s return comes at an opportune time for Chicago, which beat the Portland Fire on Wednesday night. It was their second win in the 13 games since Jackson’s injury.
Chicago is currently near the bottom of the league standings at No. 13. The team sits above the Seattle Storm and Connecticut Sun, both have three wins each.
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Vandersloot made her return to 5-on-5 action in practice three weeks ago. At the time, she told reporters she felt like a return was near and that she was “recovering fast.”
To make room for Vandersloot’s addition to the active roster, the Sky waived hardship contract signee Saylor Poffenbarger.
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